I checked my pay stubs for June 2006 and July 2006, and my federal income tax deduction went up. Apparently the Conservatives income tax hike went into effect when the GST cut of 1% did. The tax hike is costing me $87.60 more per year, while the GST cut only saves me that much if I buy $8,760 worth of GST taxable goods in the year.
Click to enlarge.Here’s an interesting link at StatCan which explains low income wages, and average wages in Canada for 2002 and earlier. It looks like I may even be below the so called poverty line today taking inflation into account. It makes me wonder why personal income tax exemption isn’t closer to $20,000 instead of the pathetic ~$8,700 it is now. I have a university degree in computer science, and fortunately don’t have a loan or children yet to worry about, otherwise I’d probably be in financial do-do even with the full time job I have now.
Jeff at BCinTO did a story on the tax changes, and along with my Dad’s suggestion to double check my paystubs, it was the inspiration for this demonstration of how Conservatives say one thing, and do another.
I encourage other people with jobs to share their figures with Canadians, so we can get a personal sense of how the Tories are taxing earnings from different levels of income.
@hotmail.com
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.efc.ca/images/efcfreet.gif)
Werner Patels: Musings | 28-Aug-06 at 9:17 am | Permalink
Thank you, Mr. Harper…
Here’s another report by an individual who’s been cheated out of his money by Harper’s tax policies: My income shrank due to Conservatives People can say lots of things about Harper, but if there is solid proof that the guy…
My Blahg » HONEY, I SHRUNK THEIR PAYCHEQUES | 28-Aug-06 at 9:40 am | Permalink
[...] Another Canadian is unhappy with PMS’ tax cuthike. The tax hike is costing me $87.60 more per year, while the GST cut only saves me that much if I buy $8,760 worth of GST taxable goods in the year. [...]
Jay | 28-Aug-06 at 10:58 am | Permalink
Welcome to the club, I lost $200 on my first cheque after July1 and it is now still about $30 less a month. I have no plans to buy any product over $40,000 so I lose out this year. So I hope the rich folk are enjoying their GST cut which has been brought to them by the poor and middle class who have had their wages clawed back and tend to notice when it happens, everytime it happens. Must be nice to not have to even check a bank balance daily. Disgusting.
Greg Phelan | 28-Aug-06 at 11:02 am | Permalink
You seem surprised by this - it was pretty clearly stated during the campaign what the tax rates would be and when they would be implimented.
Saskboy | 28-Aug-06 at 11:08 am | Permalink
Greg, I’m not really surprised no. I expected the Conservatives to make lower income earners pay more taxes, while favouring high income earners, that’s petty much on par with their objectives. Hopefully a high-wage earner will post their cheque to demonstrate the change.
JDot | 28-Aug-06 at 12:55 pm | Permalink
Dude it’s offset by the 1000$ employment tax credit. So you will get that money back at the end of the year. I’m not a hundred% but my accountent says not to worry I will still get back more this year (well there are other things for me that some people won’t get to use).
EX-NDIP | 28-Aug-06 at 1:02 pm | Permalink
Did your wages go up, that could have put you in a different tax bracked . . . designed by . . . guess who . . . . the Chretien/Martin gang . . . didn’t hear you bitchin the last decade as Martin rolled out some of the most regressive payroll taxes in the history of Canada . . . so chill out and give it a rest . . . did you think Harper was going to fix the entire Liberal Mess in 9 months????
Saskboy | 28-Aug-06 at 1:07 pm | Permalink
JDot, I’ve heard other bloggers mention $1000 or $500 but they don’t provide a link or explain who it covers and why the Conservatives take money to give more back later.
Ex-NDIP, my wages went up last year, but that wouldn’t cause the June/July difference specificly. I haven’t been moaning the last years because I was a student and only had seasonal jobs.
Saskboy | 28-Aug-06 at 1:15 pm | Permalink
http://bridget.tomcort.com/ Is a blogger keeping track of her GST savings in the top right corner of her blog.
rose | 28-Aug-06 at 3:37 pm | Permalink
My husband will lose out too (I am a student on scholarship, and if the CPC hold their promise of not taxing scholarships, then I should be A-OK). I think even before we realised the personal exemption thing, we were already losing about 160 bucks a year with just the tax increase alone. Then with GST savings it amounts to about 100 dollars we are losing. Plus the personal exemption cut. Although we make enough money so that net it looks like we are middle class, our student loans and my tuition payments (approx 2000 a month) actually put us at or below the poverty line, so this tax hike will hurt us.
Ex-NDIP: Its the conservative mantra isn’t it, to keep saying “well we aren’t as bad as the Liberals” yada yada. I’m looking for a step up in my government. They need a better excuse than all the time they are spending fixing the Liberal mess.
rose | 28-Aug-06 at 3:39 pm | Permalink
btw Saskboy, don’t know how sensitive you are about personal info, but you might want to black out a few more lines on your paystub……
Saskboy | 28-Aug-06 at 3:51 pm | Permalink
Don’t sweat it Rose, I realize people can do the math and figure out things if I don’t black everything out, and it’s not like it’s a state secret anyway. Everyone I work with knows it because pay rates are in the contract. I did almost miss the SIN though, that would have been something to blush over.
I was more concerned with people thinking I’m trying to hide something, and missing the point that the Conservatives are taking more in taxes with always the promise to give it all and more back later. That just doesn’t seem conservative in the taxation sense to me.
ferrethouse | 28-Aug-06 at 5:56 pm | Permalink
Then as a Liberal you should be happy. Stop your whining. Your taxes pay for important social programs. Right???
Saskboy | 28-Aug-06 at 5:58 pm | Permalink
Ferrethouse, I haven’t been a Liberal for some years now. I’m a Green. And why should I be happy that more tax money is going to social programs, but the Conservatives vow to cut back social programs every time they get into power? Please make some sense and try again.
Are you OK with the Conservative government taking more of your income?
Saskboy | 28-Aug-06 at 6:36 pm | Permalink
Offtopic, but this is my blog and I like posting offtopic anyway…
Ferrethouse, if you think racial profiling is such a good idea, check out my idea, I have a formulated a profile that will stop even more terrorists. Stop and search anyone with a penis. Sure it will probably get a few innocent people like ferrethouse and me, but we all have to do our part for freedom, eh?
beepbeepitsme | 28-Aug-06 at 7:13 pm | Permalink
I am compiling a new blogroll of atheist and agnostic blogs. if you would like to be included in this list please leave a reply here :
Are You An Atheist Or An Agnostic?
http://beepbeepitsme.blogspot.com/2006/08/are-you-atheist-or-agnostic.html
Saskboy | 28-Aug-06 at 7:42 pm | Permalink
Hi BeepBeep,
Now we’re wayyy offtopic aren’t we? :-D
Thank you for the invite, but I think I’ll decline for now. If I change my mind I’ll leave a note.
Darren | 29-Aug-06 at 3:39 am | Permalink
“btw Saskboy, don’t know how sensitive you are about personal info, but you might want to black out a few more lines on your paystub……”
Yes, you have to be careful about identity theft these days.
Looks at Saskboy’s paycheck.
Nevermind.
That was my lame attempt at humour.
Darren | 29-Aug-06 at 3:40 am | Permalink
I did vote for your fridge if it makes you feel better.
Saskboy | 29-Aug-06 at 7:39 am | Permalink
Thanks Darren for the vote. The Conservatives may have ended Energuide, but at least the Blogosphere cares about Energy Star appliances ;-)
Ashley | 29-Aug-06 at 4:00 pm | Permalink
yes, i voted for your fridge too. its hard to find in the big mess of fridges. and it only has 14 votes or so
Saskboy | 29-Aug-06 at 5:28 pm | Permalink
It is in 2nd or 3rd place I think with that count. Keep voting people, every time it lets you! :-)
John Murney | 29-Aug-06 at 10:45 pm | Permalink
Let’s not forget the income tax rate for the lowest income bracket was increased. That would also make a difference.
My Blahg » AFGHANISTAN IS A FAILURE | 05-Sep-06 at 6:21 pm | Permalink
[...] If anyone is shocked at this revelation I’d just like to point out that the socalled democracy building efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq–which is also FUBAR–are ventures by the conservatives. Conservatives can’t even deliver a tax cut without screwing it up, so why anyone would think they could handle the complexities of nation building is beyond me. [...]
Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy :: Harper a straight up guy | 01-Sep-08 at 8:35 am | Permalink
[...] taxation path anyway. Probably one where income taxes will go down considerably, as opposed to the Conservative’s income tax hike when they came to [...]